Lubricator for graphite.



' 0. COMSTOGK. LUBRIGATOR FOR GRAPHITE. APPLIOATIOI FILED JULYB, 1908 919,322. Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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CHESTER COMSTOOK, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

LUBRICATOR FOR GRAPHITE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1908.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Serial No. 441,757.

u pecially designed to feed material in a comminuted or pulverulent condition, such for instance as graphite or pulverized mica; and has for its object an improved form of such device that will feed a small quantity of such material at regular intervals, and without the use of considerable pressure.

In the accompanying drawing representing embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of the de- Fig. 2 is a partial section taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are different elevations of the apertured member in the receptacle. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 7 a vertical Fig. 8 shows the latter member in modified form. Fig. 9 is a view of the valve member detached. Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the lubricator. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a modification Figs. 12 to 16 show forms of the feed member used in the modification; and Fig. 17 shows another form of valve.

The invention is shown as comprising a receptacle having in its lower portion, or in its bottom, a feed member. The receptacle is provided with an outlet passage and also with an inlet passage, arranged at or in proximity to the said feed member. And the feed member is provided with an inlet 1 passage and also an outlet passage, and also with two passages, one leading from the inlet to the outer face of the feed member exposed to the contents of the receptacle, and a second passage opening into the outlet, and having its other end in the face of the feed memher, and in more or less proximity to the end of the other passage in the face of the feed member. These passages are preferably inclined to each other and may extend in opposite directions from their said ends in the face of the feed member, and are also preferably of smaller size than the said inlet and outlet passages. And it may also be desirable to arrange another passage in the feed 5 member connecting the inlet passage with the outlet passage directly, which passage is also preferably relatively smaller than the passages it connects. The feed member may also be provided with a recess portion includ ing the two said adjacent ends of the passages in the face of the feed member.

In the construction shown in Figs. 18 is a receptacle 2 having in its lower portion a feed member 3, somewhat in the form of a plug set in the bottom of the receptacle in a suitable opening. Below this plug is an outlet 4 that is closed from the receptacle by the feed member 3. An inlet in the form of a passage 6 in the receptacle is provided that may be open to the atmosphere at 7, or if desired may be connected to any suitable source of pressure. The feed member 3 connects with the inlet passage 6 by a passage 8 therein, and a reduced passage 9 in the feed member connects with the outer face 10 of the feed member that is exposed to the contents of the receptacle 2. The feed member 3 connects with the outlet 4 by passage 11, formed by a bore in the member as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, having a valve seat 12 therein; and the feed member is cut away at 13 thereby connecting the bore 11 with the outlet 4. A reduced passage 14 connects the outlet 11 with the outer face 10 of the feed member and is thereby exposed to the lubricant in the in the receptacle. It will be observed that the ends of the reduced passages 14 and 9 are in proximity, and also that they extend in opposite directions'from the receptacle. In Fig. 8 there is no passage connecting the inlet 8 with the outlet 11, but in Figs. 3-7 thesetwo passages are connected by a bore 15 that is practically a continuation of the bore 11 meetin the inlet passage 8 in the feed member.

Tn order to control the flow of graphite from the; receptacle through the feed member and out of the outlet 4, an outlet valve is provided and a pin valve 16 is shown as engaging the valve seat 12 of the bore 11, and is normally held closed by a spring 17. Suitable means may be provided for opening this valve at certain intervals. A short shaft 18 (Fig. 10) carried by a suitable bracket 19, has an arm 20 engaging the outer end 21 of the valve to open the valve when swung; and a second arm 22 on the shaft 18 is engaged by one or more lugs 23 fast on a disk 24 that rotates on shaft 25, carried in a hearing portion 26 of the receptacle. Shaft is shown as provided with a ratchet wheel'27 engaged by pawl 28 that is ivoted on a swinging lever 29. When the ever is oscillated the ratchet wheel is advanced, and v. ill l outlet valve will retained closet. by its intermittently rotate the dish carrying the lugs 23.

the lugs vxill ing the arm. 22 and by their hovel form will trip the valve 16, thereby opening the outlet of the feed. member for a short period of time. In this form of lulu'icator, the inlet passage 6 also connects 1th the receptacle by a tube opening into the upper end of the receptacle and serving to equalize the pressure on the lubricant therein, and tending to force it down .ard to the feed memlier. In the construction. described, there is also shoain means for closing the exposed ends of the two passages in the feed member to the contents of the receptacle for certain periods of time, yet providing communication hetween the two said ends. This is eliected by a valve member that is operated in connection with the outlet meniher whereby the outlet is normally closed by its valve, and the valve is opened at the outlet only for a short period of time vrhile the other valve closes communication. between the said ends of the passages in the feed member and the contents of the receptacle. The shaft 25 is shown as projecting into the receptacle and provided ith a head 31 in the form of a cross arm. A stem 32 slides in openings in the cross arm and has a diametrical position relative to shaft 25. The outer extremities of this stem 32 carry valves 33 and 34:, which valve member has a slight endwise movement. The valve memhers33 and 34 on rotation of the shaft w'll alternately sweep across the exposed face or the feed member 3 that is preferably curved cylindrically to engage the correspondingly shaped faces of the valves. This slight endwise movement of the valve stem will give a little play to the valves as they ipe across the feed member, and they will fall by their own weight and press against the feed member, also assisted by the pressure in the recep tacle through the inlet by tube 30. Means are also provided whereby communication between the tvzo passage ends is not closed by the valve member. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 7 a comparatively shallow recess is provided in the feed member, into which the said passages 9 and 1- lead. The valve will cover this recess as it sweeps past but the recess v. ill still connect the two passages. For each revolution of the shaft 25 both of the valves will sweep across the feed member closing the openings for a short period of time. The valve member a ill also serve as an agitator to cause the lubricant to be fed toward the recess and passages. The lugs on the disk that serve to openthe outlet valve are preterahly two in number corresponding to the two valves, and are located to open the outlet valve during the time that one of said valves covers the recess in the feed member.

At suitable periods in its rotation,

At the intervening period, the

member being arranged in proximity.

spring.

In the modification shown in Figs. l]-16 the feed member 40 (shown in Figs. 11,13 and 15,) is provided with an inlet passage ll an outlet passage 42, and passages 43 and %4 connecting the inlet and outlet ith the outer face of the feed memher; the ends of the latter passages in the face of the feed 7 This feed memher is also shown as provided v-.ith a passage 45 connecting the inlet 4. v. ith the outlet 42. In the modifications shoe. n in Figs. 12, 14 and 1.6, the connecting passage a5 is omitted. T his teed member is shown applied to receptacle 4-6 at its lower por tion, the receptacle having an outlet l7 connecting u ith the outlet portion 42 of the feed member, and controlled by an outlet valve l8 that may he operated by means similar to said outlet valve 16, controlling the passage to the exit passage 49. In this modification the inlet passage ll. is extended in the form of a tube 42 opening into the upper portion ol the receptacle. The cap of the receptacle is shoun as provided with an inlet 51 for atmospheric air.

The operation of the feed member in. this device is somewhat in the nature of an injector action. fv ith the form shown in Fig. 8, the air enters the inlet passage 8 and thence passes through the reduced 9 into the lower portion of the receptacle, and out through the reduced passrg' 14 into the outlet, when the outlet valve is opened. The passage of the air or will serve to draw or such the graphite between the two passages 9 and 14%, along with it into the outlet. The same operation takes place with respect to the feed member illustrated in 12, 14., 15 and 16; the air entering l'rom inlet e1 tlirough rethiced passage 43 into the receptacle, and leaving through reduced passage 44 into the outlet 42, will suck or draw graphite alrnig with it. In the forms shown in Figs. 1 7, the air will find a more direct outlet through pass 15, but by injector action will draw the air or graphite out ol passage l l while the pressure will cause the air to enter the reduced oassage and the latter will ilind its way to t 1e outlet 14 carrying the graphite witl. it. The same operation takes place with the form shown in Figs. ll and 13, the air having a more direct outlet by passage 45 will also operate by injector action.

in the form of feed member shown in Fig. 17, the recess 35 shown in Fig. is omitted; and a is provided in the valve'63, on the head. 64. The passages 61 and 62 in the feed member 69 lead to the ot' the feed member, and the recess 65 provides con'imunicatioi1 between the ends of these passages, yet cuts off communication between them and the lubricant in the receptacle. A regular predetermined quantity of lubricant is led, according to the capacity of the recess at each operation of the valves. In the other form of feed member shewn the amount of lubricant fed is regulated by the length of time the outlet valve is held open.

Having now particularly described my in-- vention, I claim:

1. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the let er part of the receptacle having an inlet passage, and also having an outlet passage, the member hea ing a passage leading from the inlet one face of the member, the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity.

In a lnbricator for feeding graphite. a receptacle, member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity, and a valve for controlling the outlet passage.

3. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the mem-- ber bei located in proximity, a valve con-- trolling the outlet passage, and a valve member arranged to close communication between said latter passage ends and the receptacle.

4. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity, a normally closed valve for the outlet, a valve member arranged to close com municaticn between said passage ends and the receptacle, and operative means for the valves organized to open the outlet valve for a period while the said valve covers the said passage ends to the receptacle.

5 In. a lubricator for feeding graphite, receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage, and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being loeated in proximity, a rotatable member having a head, a double valve mounted on the head to have an endwise movement thereon with valve members at diametrically opposite portions that alternately close com-- munication. between the two passage ends and the receptacle on rotation of the shaft, the outlet valve member being operatively connected with the said shaft to be normally closed but opened While the said valves close the said passage ends in the said member.

6. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a

' receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and. the member also having passage leading from the face of the memher to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity, the member also having a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet passages.

7. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and the member also having a passage leadingfrom the faceofthe member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity, the member also having a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet passages, and a valve controlling the outlet passage.

8. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the'member having a relatively small passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, the member also having relatively small a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two pas. ages the face of the member being located in proximity, and extending in opposite directions from such ends.

9. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a relatively small passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, the member also having relatively small a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the face of the member being located. in proximity, and extending in opposite directions from such ends, the member also having a passage connecting the inlet with the outlet passages.

10. In alul 'icatorlor feeding graphite, a

recepte lo, a member at the lower part of the rcceptr havmg an inlet passage and also heving an e. passage lending from the inlet to one face i the member, and the member also having a passage leading l'roni the lace ol the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the lace ol' the member being located in proximity, the member also havir g a passe e connecting the inlet with the outlet passages, a rotatable member having head a double valve il'iOLFtGll on the head to have an endivisc movement therein \vitl valve members at (hametrically OPPOSP'DQ;

portions that alternately close cornmunication between the two passage ends and the receptacle on. rotation of the shalt, the outlet valve member being operatively connected with th said shalt to be normally closed but opened While the said valves c ose the said passage ends in the said n rnber.

11. In a lubricator for reeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lover part ol the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the me W 116 face ol the member, and the me b-er also having a passage leading from the laceol the member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the lace of t member being located in proximity, the i1 ber having a recess including said ends, a valve arranged to close the recess to the receptacle, and a valve controlling the outlet.

13. In a lubricator for feedin ranhite O b L 7 receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle hav'rig an inlet passage and also having an outlet passa the member hav ing a passage leading from the inlet to one lace ol' the l; nber, and the member also having a passage leading from. the face of the outlet passage, the member having inlet to one mg a passage leading lro'm the inlet to one member to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the lace 01 the member being located in proximity, the member hav ing a recess including said ends, a valve arranged to close the recess to the receptacle, and a valve controlling the outlet, and means for operating the valves causing the outlet valve to open While the recess is closed by its valve.

14. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passage, the member having a passage leading from the inlet to one face of the member, and the member also having a passage leading from the face of the inernber to the said outlet, the ends of the said two passages in the lace of the member being located in proximity, the member having a recess including said ends, a valve member arranged to close the outlet of said chamher, a. rotatable member having a head, a double valve mounted on the head to have an endWise movement thereon With valve members at diametrically opposite portions that alternately cover the recess in the bottom. me iber on rotation of the shalt, the valves being wider than the recess to close the recess for a period of time during the rotation of the shalt, the outlet valve member being operatively connected With the said shalt, the outlet valve being normally closed but open While the said valves close the recess in the bottom member.

15. In a lubricator for feeding graphite, a receptacle, a member at the lower part of the receptacle having an inlet passage and also having an outlet passa e, the member havl'ace oi' the member, and the member also having a passage leading from the face of the member to the said outlet, the side or the said two passages in the face of the member being located in proximity, a head shii'table in the receptacle, and a valve 1 iember on the head arranged to close communication between said passage ends and the receptacle, the valve having a limited movement on the head away iron the passage ends.

CHESTER COlvlSTOCK. Witnesses lNILLIAH H. REID, FRED. J. DOLE. 

